Starry Hours: which foreign artists are invited to corporate parties in Russia
Top foreign performers are expected at Russian corporate events, industry representatives told Izvestia. Among them are not only Natalia Oreiro, the Arabesque and Genghis Khan bands, but also American artists Akon and Jason Derulo. However, previously companies had virtually unlimited budgets, but now they set specific limits. The fees of Russian stars for performing during the December holidays reach 25 million rubles, but Western artists are asking for much more money plus private jets. Izvestia tells you how much money you can get to the star and where to spend a festive night in the company of artists.
Companies are shrinking, artists are getting more expensive
The demand for corporate events has not decreased this year compared to last year, experts say. The stars actively plan schedules for December and January and do not refuse to work on New Year's Eve itself.
— I'm fine with New Year's Eve corporate parties. What's wrong with singing your own songs and getting paid for it? It's a pleasure. I'll probably be working on New Year's Eve. But I really want to combine the stage with the opportunity to spend the evening with my loved ones," singer Habib told Izvestia.
Singer Natalia Oreiro
The key changes in the corporate market today are the growing interest in foreign artists and at the same time the reduction of budgets, said Anna Subcheva, CEO of the concert agency SAY Agency. According to her, there are requests for foreign performers, but prices are rising, and logistics is becoming more difficult.
Russian companies are most often interested in Natalia Oreiro, Arabesque and Genghis Khan groups during the New Year period. The latter were expected in Moscow in December, but their concert on December 14 was eventually postponed to April, and this is the second postponement in a row. The Arabesques are happy to accept invitations to perform in Russia, the band's lead singer Michaela Rose told Izvestia.
— We recently visited Moscow and St. Petersburg with concerts. And two years ago we had a tour of several cities with our friends: Samotsvety, Igor Kornelyuk, Vadim Kazachenko," she said. — The price depends on whether it's a festival, private or corporate parties, or city performances. This December we will perform in Moscow several times, and on January 9th we will go to the festival in St. Petersburg.
Recently, the list of American artists who are ready to come to private events in Russia has expanded.
— Everything is getting more expensive today, both in Russia and around the world. Inviting a foreign superstar has become noticeably more difficult. Most often they turn to artists who were popular in the 80s and 90s, less often to those who "shot" in the 2000s. Now we have requests for corporate events in February, when T.I. is coming to Russia, as well as for Akon and Jason Derulo," Subcheva told Izvestia.
Akon Concert
According to her, the main difference this season is the tight budget framework, which even large corporations immediately identify.
— The budget is now limited, and you need to meet not only the fee, but also the logistics. Popular artists demand private jets, which were expensive even before the pandemic. There are no direct flights to us, they fly through Istanbul — this is an additional cost and time. Plus visas, and not all foreign performers are willing to consider this option at all. World stars start at $3 million, but there are practically no requests of this level right now," Subcheva clarifies.
Absolute confidentiality is a separate factor. Some stars insist that their visit to Russia should not be known even within the host company. At the same time, the corporate fee may differ from the cost of a concert performance: sometimes the amounts match, but bonuses are added to the "corporate package" — most often a personal plane. Sometimes, in order to reduce risks, Russian customers agree to field events, for example, in the UAE: it's easier to bring both stars and guests there if it's a VIP party and there aren't a lot of people.
High Stakes Season
December is the busiest time for Russian artists: schedules begin to fill up in the fall, and fees traditionally grow along with the number of orders. First-tier artists receive from 6 to 25 million rubles for a standard 45-60 minutes performance.
— This year, those who are consistently at the top are especially popular: Grigory Leps, Philip Kirkorov, SHAMAN. And the artists of the second wave of popularity are Nadezhda Kadysheva, Tatiana Bulanova and Kai Metov, who have been on the Internet," producer Pavel Rudchenko told Izvestia.
Singer Grigory Leps
According to Izvestia, the singer of the hit "Mother Earth" Tatiana Kurtukova is ready to sing at the festival for 7 million rubles, the main star of youth Vanya Dmitrienko — for 6.5 million, and the group "Disco accident" — for 6 million. Dima Bilan will perform for 8 million. Singer Jony has the same fee, and Nikolai Baskov is ready to consider offers for December 20 for 9 million, and for December 27 for 8.5 million.
There are more budget options. Klava Coca — 3.5 million, Kai Metov — from 1.5 to 2 million, Dmitry Dibrov will come to the holiday for 3 million. There are more expensive artists. Anna Asti will sing her hits for 12.5 million rubles, and Philip Kirkorov — for 15. The Leningrad group remains one of the leaders. The cost of their performance, including fees, technical and household riders and 15% of taxes, will cost the customer 25 million rubles.
The ticket to the star
Corporate parties are not a pleasure for everyone, but anyone who is willing to buy a ticket can celebrate the New Year next to the artists.
Polina Gagarina, Grigory Leps and Teona Kontridze will perform at Barvikha Luxury Village on December 31. This is Gagarina's first open New Year's concert. A six—hour program, dinner and Santa Claus — prices from 135 to 285 thousand rubles, a box for six people - 1.5 million.
Singer Polina Gagarina
At VK Gipsy, after two o'clock in the morning, the Vintage group will take the stage: a dance floor — 4,900 rubles, a table for eight people — 170 thousand. Soso Pavliashvili and Tatiana Bulanova will perform at two venues at Soho Rooms: 9,000 tickets for one and 16,000 for both.
At the Turandot restaurant, guests will be greeted by Ani Lorak and the Moral Code: tickets — from 95 to 235 thousand, children's — 60 thousand. A more chamber version is Linda's concert at the Mumiy Troll Music Bar for 6,500 rubles.
In December, artists often move from one venue to another without pausing — and they themselves admit that December turns into a marathon.
— The closer to NG, the tighter the schedule. There are a lot of corporate parties in expensive restaurants where we would never have gone ourselves. New Year's Eve is about round dances, folk songs and performances by artists who are currently on the wave. For example, Sigmaboy," Evgenia's grandmother from Buranovskiye Babushki told Izvestia.
Folklore group "Buranovskie babushki"
As a result, despite the reduced budgets and difficult logistics, the demand for artists — both Russian and foreign — remains high. And the New Year's corporate season, as before, turns into a race in which the winner is the one who manages to get to the next stage.
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